That she had arrived at some decision as he worked Johnny guessed. What decision, and why? This he did not know.
The girl led the way. The going was rough. More than once she slipped and all but fell. Yet each time her recovery was that of the perfect woodsman, like the spring of a creature made of steel. Once she fell forward, and the caribou dropped to earth. Before Johnny could come to her aid she was up with a low laugh and lifted the burden to her shoulder once more.
“She’s wonderful!” he told himself. “I hope——”
He was not quite sure what it was he hoped. He had been a long time in the wilderness, had been facing starvation, too. He had not realized until this moment how bleak and lonely it had been.
“But now—”
His thoughts were broken short off by the girl’s actions. She had come to a sudden stop.
“Drop—drop it down here.” Her words came uncertainly.
Johnny obeyed. The next instant she had disappeared into the brush that surrounded them on every side, nor had he seen which way she had taken.
“Gone,” he told himself.
Dismay overtook him. She might not return. There was something altogether strange about the whole affair. But half a caribou in a wilderness! Yes, she would return. So he sat down to wait, and as he waited, there came to him, wafted along by a gentle breeze, faint odors of campfire smoke and bacon frying.